My Ares Son-in-Law

Some people are dressed in ancient Taoist robes, holding a whisk, with a calm expression, and exuding an otherworldly aura.

Someone carried a long sword with a cold, gleaming light on his back. He stood tall and straight, with sharp eyes, and his whole body exuded a fierce sword aura.
One of them was dressed in a black outfit, with clearly defined muscles and a steady gait, exuding a powerful explosive force;
Others were dressed in fine clothes, yet had sinister eyes and were surrounded by a faint aura of hostility.

These people gathered in twos and threes, talking in hushed tones, but their eyes were all looking in the same direction... towards Wanhua Mountain, and their eyes held a hint of greed and vigilance.

“Mr. Xiao, these people are all here because of the strange phenomena and treasures of Wanhua Mountain.”

Qin Xianglan lowered her voice, leaned close to Xiao Chen, and said in a serious tone, "It seems that this competition will not be so simple."

Xiao Chen nodded slightly without saying a word, but silently scanned the surrounding crowd with eyes as sharp as an eagle.

He could clearly sense that many of these people were quite formidable... even the weakest among them had reached the peak of the Acquired Realm, only one step away from the Innate Realm.
Among them, the strongest individuals possessed a powerful, restrained yet domineering aura, having already reached the Innate Realm, demonstrating formidable strength.

It seems that this competition for the rare treasure is destined to be bloody and turbulent, and will not be peaceful.

But he had no choice. To save Jiang Meng, to increase his strength, and to fight against the Prison Clan, he had to obtain this extraordinary treasure.

The two walked quickly out of the airport terminal. A bright red Porsche 911 was already parked at the entrance. Its eye-catching body and smooth lines exuded an arrogant and flamboyant air, making it stand out from the surrounding vehicles.

The car door slowly opened, and a young woman stepped out of the driver's seat.

She wore a stylish, form-fitting dress that accentuated her shapely figure. Her makeup was exquisite, yet her eyes held an innate arrogance. Every move she made exuded a spoiled and flamboyant air.

"Xianglan!" Upon seeing Qin Xianglan, the woman immediately broke into a bright smile, quickly approached her, and grabbed Qin Xianglan's arm, speaking affectionately.

"Long time no see! What brings you to Los Angeles all of a sudden? You didn't even tell me beforehand!"

Qin Xianglan smiled and softened her tone: "Qiaoli, thank you for coming to pick me up. It was a bit urgent, so I didn't have time to tell you beforehand."

Bai Qiaoli waved her hand casually, "Don't mention it. We're like family. Why are you being so polite with me?"

As she spoke, her gaze unconsciously fell on Xiao Chen, scrutinizing him from head to toe with a hint of inquiry in her eyes.

Xiao Chen was dressed in the same unremarkable outfit as ever today...

He was dressed in ordinary casual clothes, without any designer brands or accessories. He looked like an ordinary young man who would easily blend into a crowd and go unnoticed.

Bai Qiaoli frowned slightly, a hint of doubt and disdain flashing in her eyes... Qin Xianglan is of noble status and has extremely high standards, how could she walk with such an ordinary person?
"Xianglan, who is this?" Bai Qiaoli pointed at Xiao Chen, her tone slightly tentative and indifferent.

Qin Xianglan stepped aside and solemnly introduced, "This is Mr. Xiao, my friend, and the person I'm going to accompany to Wanhua Mountain in Luocheng this time."

Bai Qiaoli blinked, waiting for Qin Xianglan to continue her introduction, such as whether Mr. Xiao was the young master of some group, a member of some reclusive family, or a powerful expert.

But after Qin Xianglan finished speaking, she said nothing more, simply standing quietly to the side, her expression respectful. Bai Qiaoli's eyes instantly changed, her contempt deepening...

It seems that this Mr. Xiao is just an ordinary person, at most a friend Qin Xianglan met on a whim, with no background or ability.

"Friends?" Bai Qiaoli looked at Xiao Chen with a half-smile, her contempt undisguised.

"Xianglan, you're not kidding me, are you? You don't know what the situation is like in Wanhua Mountain right now, do you?"
Powerful figures from various factions were gathered there; it was a chaotic and dangerous place. What would an ordinary person like him do there? Go and die?

Qin Xianglan's face instantly darkened, and she said in a serious tone, "Qiaoli, don't talk nonsense! Mr. Xiao is not an ordinary person, you shouldn't be so rude."

Seeing that Qin Xianglan was serious, Bai Qiaoli pouted. Although she was unconvinced, she didn't dare to say anything more.

However, the gaze directed at Xiao Chen still carried a strong sense of contempt and disdain, as if he were looking at a presumptuous clown.

Xiao Chen didn't say a word from beginning to end. He just stood there quietly with a calm expression, as if he hadn't heard Bai Qiaoli's sarcasm or cared about her contempt.

His gaze remained fixed on the distant Wanhua Mountain, a hint of solemnity hidden in his eyes. His aura was restrained and steady, as if everything around him was irrelevant.

Bai Qiaoli muttered to herself:
Hmph, what's with the aloof act?
He's probably just a gigolo who's hooked up with Qin Xianglan; he has no real skills and can only put on an act. Wait until we get to Wanhua Mountain and encounter danger, then let's see how he keeps up the act!
She was disdainful in her heart, but she still forced a smile and waved her hand:
"Alright, alright, whatever Xianglan says goes. I won't argue with you. Get in the car, I'll take you to the foot of Wanhua Mountain. If we go any later, the mountain road might become difficult to travel."

The group got into the car one by one, and the red Porsche slowly drove out of the airport, speeding towards Wanhua Mountain.

The closer we got to Wanhua Mountain, the darker the sky became. Even though it was noon, the sky was completely shrouded in thick, dark clouds.

It was pitch black, with countless bolts of lightning flashing wildly through the clouds, creating a deafening roar, as if they were about to strike down at any moment. The entire world was filled with an eerie and oppressive atmosphere.

Xiao Chen leaned against the car window, looking quietly through the glass at the towering Wanhua Mountain that seemed to pierce the clouds, his eyes solemn.

He could clearly sense that countless powerful auras permeated the mountain, some profound, some sharp, some sinister, and some domineering, densely packed and covering the entire mountain.

Some of the owners of those auras had already reached the summit, silently awaiting the birth of the extraordinary treasure; others were still struggling to climb halfway up the mountain, wary of each other and distrustful of one another.

Everyone was waiting, waiting for night to fall, waiting for midnight to arrive, waiting for that extraordinary treasure to emerge from the ground.

The car soon stopped at the foot of Wanhua Mountain, where a number of people had already gathered. They were in twos and threes, looking wary and keeping their distance from each other. The air was thick with tension.

Xiao Chen pushed open the car door, got out, and took a deep breath.

A damp mist filled the air, mixed with the scorching smell of lightning and a faint stench of blood, sending a chill down one's spine. (End of Chapter)